Material-handling apparatus



July 9, 1929. w, A DER 1.720.388

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed June 20, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l fnv'enior WILLIAM PALExAuoER July 9, 1929. w. P. "ALEXANDER 1-720'338 MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed June 20, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WILLIAMPALEXANDER' I y 9, 1929- w. P. ALEXANDER 1.720.388

' MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed June 20, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 WILLIAM EALEXANDER fliiona Patented July 9, 1 929.

UITED STATES l r all WILLIAM P. ALEXANDER, F MERCHANTVILLE, NEW JERSEY.

MATERIAL-HANDLING APPARATUS.

Application filed June 20, 1927. Serial No. 199,992.

This invention relates to material handling apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus of the elevator type for lifting or lowering as the case may be, variouskinds of material from a loading point to another point where the material is discharged into a hopper, chute, or the like.

()no of the principal objects of this ins vention is the provision of a material handling apparatus of in'iproved construction including means for facilitating the discharge of the load when the bucket reaches its proper discharge point.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus for handling material including a load carrying device which latter is arranged to be loaded at its upper end and automatically discharged from its bottom end when the device reaches its proper discharge point.

A still further object of the invention the provision of an apparatus including a bucket or other suitable load supporting device, the bottom of which is pivoted upon said device and is provided with means operatively associated with other means in said apparatus for automatically swinging said bottom downwardly and away from said device whereby to permit the material to be dis charged therefrom.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a. material handling apparatus including a pivotally supported bucket or similar load conveying device, a track or runway for guiding the bucket in its travel at the same time that it serves to maintain the bucket in proper load supporting position during the major extent of said travel, and means for tilting the bucket into discharging position simultaneously as the bottom of the bucket is swung downwardly to constitute a discharge chute from the bucket.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a bottom-dump skip-hoist or similar load carrying device, the bottom of said skip being provided with one or more cam members respectively engageable by suitably arranged cam rollers for maintaining said bottom in load supporting position during the normal travel of the skip and for permitting said bottom to swing into discharging position when the skip arrives atthe point of discharge of the load.

Other objects, and objects relating to details of economy and construction, will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the material handling apparatus constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of this invention, the apparatus being shown in discharging position;

Figure 2, is a side elevation ratus shown in Figure 1, but apparatus in loading position;

Figure 3 is a top plan view ratus shown in Figure 2;

.hnz'ure 4; is an end elevation ratus shown in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a slightly modified form of the apparatus, this view showing the apparatus in loading position;

Figure (3 is a view corresponding to Figure 5 but showing the apparatus in unload ing position;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 5;

Figures 8 and 9 are side elevations of still another modified form of construction showing respectivelythe apparatus in loading and. unloading position;

Figures 10 and 11 are end elevations of Figures 8 and 9 respectively; and

Figure 12 is a top plan view of the apparatus Figure 8.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1 to 4 thereof, it will be seen that the material handling apparatus comprises a main track or runway 10 for guiding the bucket mechanism, designated of the appaof the appaof the a ioagenerally by the reference numeral 11, in

its travel. The lower end of the track or runway is suitably supported in any desired manner, in this instance the track being embedded in the base of a concrete pit 12. As appears most clearly in Figures 1 and 2, the bucket mechanism comprises a travelling carriage consisting of a pair of laterally spaced main bracket members 13 to the upper ends of which as at 14, is pivotally supported the bucket or similar load carrying device 15. The bracket members 13 are each of substantially L-shape, the vertical branches thereof being each provided with upper and lower wheels 16 and 17 arranged to travel along the main track or runway 10. The horizonshowing the tally extending branches 18 of the bracket members 13 are each provided with a roller 19 at the free end thereof for the purpose to be hereinafter set. forth. It will be observed that while in Figures 1 to 4, the main track is shown to be in the form of an H-beam and that the wheels 16 and 17 are arranged to ride in the opposite channels of this beam, a slightly different arrangement may be em ployed as shown in Figure 7 to be described hereinafter.

It will be noticed that the pivotal supports 14 for the bucket 15 lie to one side of the main track such that the bucket tends to hang normally in the position shown in Figure 2. This bucket 15 is of the bottom discharge typeyand accordingly the upper end thereof is open-to receive the material which is to be handled and the lower end thereof is provided with bottom closure 20, the rear edge of which is pivotally secured to. the bucket as at 21. Secured to this liiivotedbottom ot the bucket are a air of cam members 22, one cam member being provided for each of the cam rollers 19. As appears most clearly in Figure 2 when the bucket is in loading" or charging position the cam rollers 19 are in. engagement with the cams 22 of the bottom closure of thc'bucket and serve to maintain this bottom in closed position. Opposite the sidesot the bucket and inapprorzimatc alignc ment with the hin 'ed connection between the bucket andits botcin closure are a pair of wheels 23 freely rotatable upon a suitable shaft liked to the bucket in any desired man ner.

During; the major extent of travel of the bucket lli all of the parts hereinbe'tore lescribed are maintained in their relative positions shown in F igure 2 the bucket being lifted by means of a cable 2d passing over the pulleys 25 and thence to a'suitable power driven drum (not shown). The lower end of this cable is connected to the carriage 13, at 26 which carriage in turn carries the bucket 15.

In orlcr to eilect discharge of the load from the bucket an auxiliary pair of tracks 2'? are provided opposite the point of dis charge. These tracks27 are curved as shown in Figure land are arranged to lie on either side of the bucket -15 and its'carrier members 13. The lower ends of these tracks 27 are provided with flared openings 28 in vertical alignment with the freely rotating wheels 23 of the bucket when the latter is in its normalload carrying position. lVhen the carriage is'lifted to the desired elevation,

the wheels 23 enter the flared openings 28 of their respective curved tracks 27, and further upward movement of the carriage results in the wheels 2 being pulledupwardly and away from the main track 10 with the result thatithe bucket 15 assumes the tilted position shown in Figure 1.

tliSPBRSOtl with.

At the same time that the wheels 23 begin their travel in the tracks 27 such that the bucket starts to assume its tilted position, 't will be evident that the cam members oi the bottom closure oi the bucket will be in to ride outwardly and over their respectivo cam rollers 19. Due to the increased curvature of the cam members 01'' the rear ends thereof, the bottom closure 20 oi the bucket will be permitted to drop away from the bucket ands 'ingr downwardly until it assumes the position shown in Figure 1. In this position the material handling apparatus will have reached a position above the chute or hopper 29 and the bottom closure 20 of the bucket will then form a chute through which the material from the bucket may be discharged into the hopper or chute 2.). In the particular form of constructimi illustrated in Figures 1, to' it will be seen that the bottom closure 21) is provided with side walls 30 embracing the side walls of the bucket 15. It will. of course be understood that for handling certain kinds of materials and loads these side walls 30 may be readily Further. in this particular construction, it will be seen that the tracks 2'? are supported in the desired position by means oi? suitable structural elements 31 and 32 which latter may be secured in any desirable manner to the main track 10.

' That the material handling apparatus just described readily reversible in operation is well illustrated in Figures 5, (l and T. In these figures an arrangement is shown :for loading! the mechanism at an elevated point and then ellecting the auton'iatic discharge oi the load at a lower point. The apparatus illustratml is substantially similar to that shown Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, with the exception that instead of employing a single, main track of H-scction the track or runway consists of a pair of channel members 2,13 arranged on either side oi the bucket 15 and its supporting carriage. The wheels 16 and 17 on each bracket member 12-) of the carriage iace outwardly (see Figure 7) instead of in- 'ardl} as in the former instance so that sn 1'- licient clearance is provided het ween the tracks 33 for loading the mechanism. It will also be noticed that in this particular torm of apparatus the load supporting or conveying device may take the form of a platform having a back 34 and bottom hen the members 13 are lowered to the desired elevation, the freely rotating wheels 23enter the flared openings of the curved tracks 36 (which latter are similar to the tracks 27 of Figure 1, but are in reversed po- 'sition) and thence travel in said tracks downwardly and outwardly with respect to the main tracks 33 to cause the back 34 of the platform to assume the inclined position shown in Figure l. At the same time the bottom of the platform also swings down- (i ll wardly to form an angle of aln'iost 180 de grees with the back ti l of the platforn'i, this angle being dependent entirely upon the curvature of the cam HlOHllJOlS which are engageable by the cam rollers 19. In either arrangement of the apparatus, whether the bucket designed to discharge its lead after it has traveled upwardly or downwardly, the main wheels 16 and 17 travel constantly in the main tracks 10 or 33 such that the supporting brackets 18 maintain a definite relation with respect to said tracks.

l v'hile the load supporting device is shown as being pivotally supported at the point it which is oil center with respect to the main track 10 or 33. it to be understood that this device may be pivotally supported on the center line of the track should this arrangemcnt be desired. The bucket or platiiorni would then be suspended between the 1nem hers 13 of the carriage and the wheels 23 correspondingly positioned on the bracket or platform to enter the flared openings of the auxiliary curved tracks 27 or 5:36 in the manner and for the purpose already described.

Figures 9 to 14, inclusive, illustrate a modilied form of construction. Whereas in the previous forms of apparatus described the loading and unloading of the inechanisn'l takes place on the same side of the main tracks, in the form of apparatus shown in Figures 9 to 14, the bucket is loaded at one side of the main track or tracks and is discharged at the vother side thereof.

Referring to Figures 9 and 10, it will be seen that the lower extent of the main runway is essentially similar to the runway 33 of the construction shown in Figures 5 and (i, this runway consisting of a pair of channels 4O presenting toward each other and dis posed on either side of the bucket mechanism proper. As in the former instances the bucket l1 provided with a bottom closure 4.2 similar to that shown in Figure 1 and secured to this bottom closure are the cam mentibers The closure 42 pivoted to the bucket at the bottom thereof, as at a l, and is maintained in closed position by the cam rollers l5 which are normally held in engagement with the cam members by means of a bail or yoke it, the upper ends of which are pivoted, as at t'l", to the upper and outer corners of the bucket 41 or otherwise operatively associated ith said bucket.

lfhe bucket 41 is lifted vertically by the cable 48, one end of the latter being secured to the bucket as at 49 while the other end thereof passes over the pulley to a winding drum (not shown). Suitably mounted upon the back face of the bucket are upper and lower pairs of wheels 51 and 52. these wheels being arranged to travel in the channeled tracks l0. Due to the fact that the bucket 41 is suspended as at 4L9 so that its center of gravity is offset from the tracks 40 the tendency of the bucket is to partially rotate in a counter-clockwise direction about the point at) as the axis of rotation. However, the lower pair of wheels 52, guided as they are by the tracks 40. prevents the bucket from so turning as long as the tracks prevent the wheels from being laterally displaced.

At the point of discharge for the load, however, the main tacks l are each provided with an offset auxiliary section 53, the lower ends of which are in conununication with the main tracks 40. It will thus be seen that as the bucket is lifted toward the point of discharge the lower wheels 52 will be permitted to swing late ally of the main tracks 40 and into the lower tlared ends of the auxiliary track sections 53. Upon lifting the bucket further the rollers 52 will take the path directed by the track sections 53 with the result that the bucket will be tilted in the position shown in Figure 9. Simultaneously as the bucket begins to swing in the counterclockwise direction the cams d3 of the bottom closure l2 will begin to pass over their respective rollers l thereby permitting the said bottom closure to swing downwardly and away from the lower end of the bucket into the position shown in Figure 9. T he load carried by the bucket will then be permitted to reaoily di charge into the chute or hopper 54. which located on the opposite side of the tracks from which the bucket was originally loaded.

ln all the constructions just described it will. be apparent that as the bucket, plattoru'i or whatever load carrying device is employed is returned. to its initial loading position the bottom closure member will be automatically reset to load suppm'tiug position. In the form of C()I1Sll1j.0tl.()]1 shown in l ig'ures S) to 1 1-, the cam rollers are rotatably mounted upon a shaft 55 extending transversely below the bottomof the bucket and supported by the lower ends of the bail 46. Mounted upon the free ends of this shaft are the bail-controlling wheels 56, which latter are arranged to travel in the tracks 40 as the bucketis lifted into discharging position or lowered into charging; position. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the arrangement 0t apparatus shown in Figures 9 to 1 1-. is reversible as the apparatus shown in Figure 1 and is substantially the same manner.

It is to be understood that various changes may be made from time to time in the form, arrangement and construction of the several parts of this material handling apparatus without departing from the real spirit or principles of the invention, and it is accordingly intended to claim the same broadly as well as specifically as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. An apparatus for handling material e'omprising, in combination, a main trackwayextending from the point of loading to beyond the point of discharge, a diverging auxiliary trackway associated with said main trackway opposite the point of discharge, a carriage movable along said main trackway, said carriage being provided with a pair of soaced arms projecting laterally from said main trackway, a conveyor arranged to the same side of said main traclzway as said latorally projecting arms and pivotally suspended from the upper end of said carriage, means on said conveyor arranged to enter upon said diverging trackway whereby to elilect a tilting movement of said conveyor with respect to said main trackway, a bottom closure for said conveyor swingably mounted with respect thereto, and means on said bottom closure coacting with the free ends of said laterally projecting arms for permitting said do sure to assume a load discharging position when said carriage arrives at the point of discharge.

2. An apparatus for handling material comprising, in combination, a main trackway extending from the point of loading to beyond the point of discharge. an auxiliary traekway associated with and diverging from said main trackway opposite the point of discharge, a conveyor carrier movable along said main trackway, the main body of said carrier being arranged to one side of said main traekway and being provided with a. pair of laterally extending arms, a conveyor pivotally suspended from the upper edge of and normally abutting said main body of the carrier, guide rollers carried by said conveyor and normally abutting said main body of the carrier, said rollers being arranged to enter upon said diverging traekway whereby to cause said conveyor to assume a tilted posi tion, a swingable bottom closure for said conveyor normally supported in closed position by said laterally extending arms, and means on said closure coacting with the free ends of said arms for permitting said closure to assume a load discharging position when said conveyor is tilted to a predetermined angle.

,3. An apparatus for handling material comprising, in combination, a main trackway extending from the point of loading to beyond the point of discharge. an auxiliary trackway associated with and diverging from said main trackway opposite the point of discharge, a conveyor carrier movable along and having a pair of arms 1nojecti11g laterally from said main traclcway, a conveyor pivotally suspended from said carrier above the a ms thereof and to one side of said main t 'ackway, a shaftlixed to the bottom edge of said conveyor, a swingable bottom member for said conveyor rotatably supported by said shaft, said bottom member being normally supported in load-supporting position by said laterally projecting arms, and a pair ol guide rollers carried by said shaft and arranged to enter upon said diverging trackway whereby to cause said conveyor and its bottom member to assume load discharging positions.

4. An apparatus for handling materials comprising. in combination, a main l'121(il(\\':l extending from the point oi" loading of the material to the point oi discharge thereof, a material conveying device arranged to travel along said trackway. said device being arranged for tilting movement about a horizontal axis arranged to one side of said trackway, a diverging auxiliary traclnvay associated with said main traclnv-ay, a bottom dumping member carried by said device and swingablc about a horizontal axis located at the said side oi said main tracliwa and means disposed in the plane common to said aforementioned axes and arranged to enter into said diverging trackway whereby to effect a tilting movement of said conveying device.

5. An apparatus for handling materials comprising. in combimitioina conveyor tor the material to be handled, a transverselv extending shaft lived to the bottom edge of said conveyor, a bottom closure swingabl y mounted upon said shaft, a carrier to which the upper edge of said conveyor is pivolally seen red, said carrier being provided with a main body against which said conveyor normally abuts and with laterally projecting means For maintaining said bottom closure in load supporting position as said carrier moves From the point of loading to the point of discharge. and means arranged to either side of said aforementioned bottom edge oi the conveyor for causing said conveyor and said bottom closure to assume load discharging positions when said conveyor arrives at said point of discharge.

Signed at Philadelphia, county 01'' Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, this Lilli day of June, 1927.

XVILLIAM P. ALEXANDEQI. 

